One month into his presidency, Barack Obama gets a 72 - 17 percent approval rating from New
York State voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters also approve
66 - 22 percent of the way President Obama is handling the economy.

New York State voters approve 64 - 27 percent of Obama's Economic Stimulus Package,
which was approved by Congress as the survey was being conducted.

A total of 57 percent of voters are "very confident" or "somewhat confident" the stimulus
plan will help solve the nation's economic problems, while 40 percent are "not too confident" or
"not confident at all."

Voters say 50 - 42 percent that the stimulus plan will not help them personally. While
Democrats say 55 - 35 percent the plan will help them, Republicans say 72 - 20 percent the plan
won't help, and independent voters say 51 - 41 percent they don't expect help. Voters making
less than $50,000 a year split 46 - 45 percent on whether the plan will help them, while voters in
higher income groups expect no help.

"New Yorkers are still sorting it out, but fewer than half expect the stimulus plan to help
them personally," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Even those making less than $50,000 are divided."

"But we support the stimulus plan and we're basically optimistic that it will help the
nation's economy."

"And we think President Obama is doing a good job overall and on the economy."

Only 4 percent of New York State voters expect the stimulus plan to produce results in
less than a year, while 73 percent say it will take more than a year and 19 percent say the stimulus
plan never will work.

But 69 percent of voters expect the economy to get better by the end of Obama's term.
Even Republicans say 51 - 24 percent that the economy will get better in the next four years.

Only 2 percent of New York State voters describe the national economy as "good," with
27 percent who say it's "not so good" and 71 percent who say it's "poor."

New York State's economy is "excellent," 1 percent say, with 4 percent who say "good,"
40 percent who say "not so good" and 55 percent who say "poor."

And 56 percent of New York State voters say they are worse off than they were a year
ago, with 19 percent who say they are better off and 23 percent who say they are the same.

Things will get better personally in the next 12 months, 28 percent say, while 17 percent
expect things to get worse and 51 percent say things will stay the same.

"New Yorkers don't think prosperity is just around the corner, but they remain optimistic
that things will get better over the next four years," Carroll said.

From February 10 - 15, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,065 New York State registered
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and
nationwide as a public service and for research.

15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job
as president?

TREND: By the end of Barack Obama's term in office, do you expect the economy
to be better than it is today, worse than it is today, or about the same?

Feb 19 Dec 24
2009 2008
Better 69 70
Worse 11 6
Same 15 17
DK/NA 5 6

34. Congress is debating President Obama's economic stimulus package which
includes tax cuts and new federal spending of about 800 billion dollars. Do
you support or oppose this economic stimulus package?